Our work tries to visually capture the process of stepping in the footsteps of the other person's feelings in a journey that includes three steps: active listening, osmosis and reflection. Edith Stein, a german philosopher, makes a statement saying that empathy cannot be taught, instead it can be facilitated. It is also a post-event realisation, unlike plain sympathy, which is the most confusing term when it comes to empathy.
Called "Erlebnisse" in German, these experiences are various forms of feelings, experiences and states.
How does it work?
Stage 1: User gets detected when they approach the installation. They are “active listening” to a randomly chosen pre-recorded voice-over (VO) about empathy. The VO will be visualized as real time forming shapes projected inside the shape frame.
Stage 2: While actively listening the users will witness an infinity mirror of them in the installation. This will be considered the 2nd stage, in Edith’s term: a “cross-over”.
Stage 3: Lastly, the reflection of the user will be deformed to the shape of the installation - representing the final stage of empathy, getting the self back, but this time transformed through the lenses of experienced empathy.